Faith in Obamacare

Not ready to give up on Obamacare

Regarding the Nov. 14 front-page story “106,185? Low enrollment reflects on Obamacare’s struggles,” if one were to be wholly nonpartisan and more accurate one might say “Low enrollment reflects Obamacare’s website struggles.”

Don’t mistake the mechanics for the substance. At the end of the day, if the Republicans don’t succeed in undermining it, almost all Americans will have health coverage, a huge undertaking.

Most industrialized nations provide universal health coverage, and we have seriously lagged behind. Nothing happens without problems. Have a little patience and perspective.

Louise Buck

San Diego

Anyone for a 2006 financial strategy?

The Nov. 13 front-page article “Are your property taxes on the rise?” includes an interesting statement from H.D. Palmer, the spokesman for the state Department of Finance. He says higher property taxes, a result of higher property values, could be a signal to homeowners to spend. It doesn’t matter that wages haven’t risen, unemployment is still at debilitating levels and the economy is stagnant. Mr. Palmer thinks it’s time to refinance your loan — create more debt and risk for yourself, in the midst of artificially low interest rates driving another real estate bubble.

Thanks for the advice.

Vic Tallarida Jr.

Sabre Springs

Ban would not affect all plastic bags

The proposed plastic bag for San Diego policy doesn’t ban all plastic bags. Residents would be able to reuse produce and pharmacy bags.

Approximately 85 jurisdictions in California have successfully adopted a plastic bag reduction policy. While it will require a change in habits, the benefits — cleaner beaches, less harm to marine life, taxpayer savings and longer landfill capacity — far outweigh the perceived downsides.

Haley Haggerstone

Chapter Coordinator,

Surfrider Foundation

San Diego

Remember the Korean War

Regarding the Nov. 12th. letter about Veterans Day, forgetting the U.S. Army Air Forces of World War II, thank you to all of our veterans, but what about the veterans from the Forgotten War, the Korean conflict, I’m a veteran of that conflict. I lost two of my friends there. Five and a half million veterans should also be remembered from that three-year Forgotten War.

Floyd Kellman

Scripps Ranch

Black Friday delirium is selfish

To those of you who participate in the Black Friday feeding frenzy after Thanksgiving, shame on you. Granted, the businesses that open on Thanksgiving aren’t blameless, but you are slightly more to blame as your participation in the frenzy encourages the businesses.

Put yourself in the shoes of the workers who are sacrificing their Thanksgiving because you have to have that deal. Before you say you’re sacrificing your Thanksgiving, unlike the workers, you are choosing to be there.

You’re behaving like a bunch of rabid dogs. Actually, I take that back. Unlike you, rabid dogs have an excuse for their behavior.

Victor Chabala

Vista

Diplomacy, not sanctions, for Iran

We absolutely need to support diplomacy with Iran. Now that diplomacy is working it would be reckless to shatter negotiations by increasing sanctions on Iran and putting millions of lives at risk needlessly.

If we go for more sanctions it would destroy the moderates and educated people of Iran.

Mehdi Sani

Rancho Santa Fe

Iran diplocmacy add

As Secretary of State John Kerry mentioned to senators on the progress of unprecedented diplomatic talks with Iran, he’s trying to counter the intense pressure from conservative lobbying groups to increase sanctions on Iran — a move like that would immediately shatter the current negotiations.

I strongly support diplomacy with Iran. I was born in Iran and still have family there. Now that diplomacy is working, it would be reckless to shatter negotiations by increasing sanctions on Iran and needlessly putting millions of lives at risk.

Mori Poustinchi

Carlsbad

Ending gender-based violence

In his Nov. 11 article, Fred Dickey movingly describes the current life of former police Officer Dan Walters, who was tragically paralyzed by a domestic violence perpetrator 10 years ago. Walters was shot at close range, and the perpetrator was killed by another police officer.

Walters commented to Dickey that helping people in need, such as “getting women and children to a shelter,” represented his best moments as a cop.

The loss of lives and infliction of injuries related to violence against women and girls are the most pervasive human rights violations on Earth. Trillions of dollars are wasted and billions of lives affected because of such violence. For every brutalized victim, at least seven other individuals are harmed. In the U.S., three women are murdered every day by their husbands or partners. In San Diego County, the number of cases of domestic violence reported to law enforcement exceeds the total of all other forms of violent crimes.

Members of law enforcement, social services, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations have been actively engaged in ending gender-based violence. Obviously, these efforts are not enough. All of us, especially parents and teachers, must become involved in educating young people on the basic values of treating each other with respect and dignity. The lives of far too many people depend on this urgent educational, public safety plea.

Anne Hoiberg

Point Loma

People need to learn about effects on environment

The biggest issue that the world faces today regarding human effect on the environment and what actions need to be taken toward a solution is the lack of awareness. Too many people choose to avoid becoming educated in issues such as global warming, pollution, species extinction and so on.

More so today, than any other time in human history, the need for sustainable ways to live on Earth needs to be a major topic for the public. Although efforts are being made toward sustainability, a large number of people prefer to not know what is going on because it means change and as a whole, humans do not like change. There is no way, though, that we can continue to live the way that we do without leading to our own destruction because our current way of living is outdated. But there is also no way to avoid that path if people refuse to become educated on the effects that humans have on the environment.

Can we come together and make an effort to learn about pressing environmental concerns for the sake of our own future?

Madison Hills

UCSD freshman

Help for those with mental illness

As a nursing student at the University of San Diego, I’m thrilled that the mental health parity law is finally being implemented as intended. Making Americans with mental health problems pay more for care is unacceptable and unproductive. With a quarter of American adults suffering from a diagnosable mental disorder, and in light of recent tragedies associated with gun violence across the county, it’s about time that we take steps to make mental health services more accessible to those who need them.

In addition, we must be diligent to remove the stigma associated with mental illness. To curb the epidemic of violence in our country, those with mental health problems can’t be afraid to speak up and seek help.